QuickBooks Self-Employed has three pricing tiers for 2026, ranging from $15/month to $35/month. Understanding what each tier includes — and which one freelancers actually need — can save you from overpaying or under-buying.
QuickBooks Self-Employed Plans & Pricing 2026
### Plan 1: Self-Employed — $15/month
The entry plan includes everything most freelancers need for day-to-day bookkeeping:
- •Income and expense tracking: Connect your bank and credit card accounts; transactions are auto-imported and categorized.
- •Quarterly tax estimates: Automatically calculates your estimated quarterly payments based on your income and expenses.
- •Mileage tracking: GPS-based tracking via the mobile app. Log business drives automatically.
- •Basic invoicing: Create and send professional invoices, though customization is limited.
- •Schedule C prep: Categorizes expenses in Schedule C format, ready for tax time.
- •30-day free trial (no credit card required)
Who this is for: Freelancers who file taxes with TurboTax, H&R Block, or their own CPA. You do the bookkeeping here, file taxes elsewhere.
### Plan 2: Self-Employed Tax Bundle — $25/month
Everything in the basic plan, plus:
- •TurboTax Self-Employed included: One federal + one state return included at no additional cost (normally $129 + $49-59).
- •Live tax advice (limited): Access to tax professionals during filing season.
- •One-click export: Your QuickBooks data transfers directly to TurboTax — no manual re-entry.
Who this is for: Freelancers who plan to use TurboTax for filing. At $300/year, this plan is often cheaper than buying QuickBooks ($180/year) + TurboTax ($178-188) separately.
The math: $25/month × 12 = $300/year. vs. Basic QuickBooks ($15 × 12 = $180) + TurboTax SE ($129 federal + $49 state = $178) = $358/year. You save $58/year with the bundle.
### Plan 3: Self-Employed Live Tax Bundle — $35/month
Everything in the Tax Bundle, plus:
- •Year-round CPA access: Ask tax questions any time of year, not just during filing season.
- •Final review by a CPA: A tax professional reviews your return before you file.
- •Full TurboTax Live: Comprehensive CPA oversight.
Who this is for: High-income freelancers ($100k+) who want professional oversight without hiring a full-time CPA. At $420/year, it's significantly cheaper than an accountant ($1,500–$3,000/year) while still providing professional review.
Is QuickBooks Self-Employed Worth the Cost?
### Yes, if: - You have $50k+ in annual freelance income - You want quarterly tax estimates built in (no separate calculator needed) - You use TurboTax (the Tax Bundle pays for itself) - You drive for business and want automatic mileage tracking - You value the Schedule C export at tax time
### No, if: - You earn under $30k/year (free Wave is sufficient) - You don't need quarterly tax estimates - You prefer more robust invoicing (FreshBooks is better) - You need payroll or inventory (you need a more advanced QuickBooks plan)
QuickBooks Self-Employed vs Free Alternatives
| Feature | QuickBooks SE ($15/mo) | Wave (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Income tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Expense categorization | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoicing | Basic | Good |
| Quarterly tax estimates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mileage tracking | ✓ (GPS) | ✗ |
| Schedule C export | ✓ | Manual |
| TurboTax integration | ✓ | ✗ |
Bottom line: Wave is the right choice if you're under $30k/year or don't need quarterly tax estimates. QuickBooks Self-Employed earns its $15/month once you're billing consistently and want quarterly tax guidance built in.
How Much Is QuickBooks Self-Employed Per Month?
QuickBooks Self-Employed costs $15/month for the base plan, $25/month for the Tax Bundle, and $35/month for the Live Tax Bundle.
Intuit frequently offers promotional pricing — commonly 50% off for the first 3 months. During promotions, you can start at $7.50/month.
How Much Does QuickBooks Self-Employed Cost Per Year?
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Employed | $15/mo | $180/yr |
| Tax Bundle | $25/mo | $300/yr |
| Live Tax Bundle | $35/mo | $420/yr |
There is no annual billing discount for QuickBooks SE; all plans are billed monthly.
QuickBooks Self-Employed Quarterly Tax Estimates: How Do They Work?
One of the key features at every price tier is the quarterly tax estimate calculator. Here is exactly how QuickBooks SE calculates your estimated taxes:
- Connects to your bank and credit cards to import all income and expenses
- Categorizes each transaction — business income, deductible expenses, personal spending
- Applies the SE tax formula: Net self-employment income × 0.9235 × 15.3% = SE tax
- Adds federal income tax estimate based on your filing status and income bracket
- Shows your recommended quarterly payment before each due date
This automated estimate is what separates QuickBooks SE from basic accounting tools. The quarterly tax feature alone prevents the most common freelancer mistake: underpaying estimated taxes and owing a penalty at year-end.
QuickBooks Self-Employed Free Trial
All three QuickBooks SE plans include a 30-day free trial — no credit card required. You can connect your bank account, import 3 months of transactions, and see your estimated quarterly payment before paying anything.
QuickBooks Self-Employed App Cost
The mobile app (iOS and Android) is included at no extra cost with all QuickBooks SE plans. The app handles mileage tracking via GPS, receipt scanning, and expense categorization on the go.
Is There a Free Version of QuickBooks Self-Employed?
No. QuickBooks Self-Employed does not have a free plan. The lowest cost is $15/month. If you need zero-cost accounting, Wave is the leading free alternative — though it lacks the quarterly tax estimate feature.
For a full side-by-side comparison, see our QuickBooks Self-Employed vs Wave review or read our complete QuickBooks SE review.